Continuous slide fastener



Aug. 10, 19 5 HANS-ULRICH SOHR ETAL 3,199,162

CONTINUOUS SLIDE FASTENER Filed Sept. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HHNS UL RICH SOHR WILHELM mnussmrmn/ BY W [Mm ATTORNEY5 g- 1965 HANS-ULRICH SOHR ETAL 3,199,162

CONTINUOUS SLIDE FASTENER Filed Sept. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 45 m m m INVENTOR HHN5-ULR|0H 5mm WLHELM unussmnmv BY a/wv v 2144M ATTORNEYS g- 1965 HANS-ULRICH SOHR ETAL 3,199,162

CONTINUOUS SLIDE FASTENER Filed Sept. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HRNS-ULR [DH SOHR WILHELM HAUSSNHNN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,1%,162 CQNTINUUUS SHADE FASTENER Hanslrich Solar, Sch-eubachweg, Nassau (Lahn), Germany, and Wilhelm Haussmann, 42 Gundhofstrx, Walldorf, Hesse, Germany Filed Sept. 7, 1%2, Ser. No, 222,240 d Claims. (til. E l-205.13)

This invention relates to sliding clasp fastener elements, which are formed by winding a plastic wire of any de sired cross-section to form a helix. The winding is effected on a core about which the wire is guided by means of a winding head, in which connection the helix formed may, if required, be provided on the core with locking proiections aligned in accordance with a generatrix or longitudinally extending Zone parallel to the helix axis.

lt is known to wind the two rows of elements which are required for a sliding clasp fastener and which are of opposite pitch, in such manner that they engage one within the other, the winding being eifected on a core by means of two winding heads. The Winding core is of either round, oval, near-shaped or triangular cross-section and can be reduced over a part cross-section in the course of its length. in every case, however, the helices exhibit uniform pitch for each full helical turn. This, however, makes it dihicult to sew such rows of elements on by means of a simple back-stitch (loch-stitch).

it has therefore also already been proposed to rotate the said helix, in the zone of the bights opposite the bights having the locking projections, through an angle of 0 relatively to the helix axis, so as in this way to make it rote readily possible for the sewing-on needle to passthrough between two successive helices.

The invention relates to a novel design of the said rows of sliding clasp fastener elements consisting of helices whereby a satisfactory formation of the locking projections is achieved and, without varying the pitch of the helix, the sewing-on needle is able to pass through between each helix, the final result of these arrangements being that the row of elements is firmly secured on the stringer tape by means of a simple back-stitch.

According to the invention, in the case of a row of sliding clasp fastener elements bent to a helix and provided with shaped-on locking projections along a generatrix, or longitudinally extendin zone, each winding consists of a broadly arched-out headpiece bight carrying the locking pro ection a d, extending therefrom, two limbs located in the same plane which is perpendicular with respect to the winding axis and drawn in relatively to the head piece, one of the said limbs being bent over into the plane of the next winding at a point near the bending-over point bigiit opposite the head piece.

The reversal point bight positioned opposite the head piece can, in this connection, also be arched-out relatively to the two limbs. In consequence of this design, each winding is, in every case, located in a plane which is transverse relative to the winding axis and the increase in pitch takes place suddenly due to the short bendingover of one i the limbs into the plane of the following winding.

The manufacture of the new element row is effected on a per se known winding machine the winding core of which corresponds, in profile, to the desired winding crosssection of the helix, there being associated with the core appropriately profiled pressing-on rollers for pressing the windings against the core.

The design of the novel element row and of the winding core serving for the manufacture thereof, with pressing-on rollers, is discussed in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows the row of elements, in diagrammatic form and drawn to a larger scale,

FIGURE 2 shows, in diagrammatic form, the underside of the row of elements according to FIGURE 1,

FIGURES 37 show, in cross-section, various embodiments of the winding core,

FIGURES 8 and 9 show two possibilities for arrangement of the pressing-011 rollers, and

ETGURE 10 shows, in diagrammatic form, a further form of the winding core.

The winding device for the manufacture of the novel sliding clasp fastener element rows extending in helical form can be designed for example in accordance with patent application Serial No. 95,642 now Tatent No. 3,109,478, but the winding core has a cross-section corresponding to FIGURES 3-7.

The said winding core is characterised by a flat crosssection with a web 13' which is provided, at least on one narrow edge, with a head 13 which is thicker relatively to the web 13'. The head 13" can be rectangular (FlG- URE 3), round (FTGURES 4-7), elliptical or of any other desired shape, provided that its width a is greater than the thickness 1) of the web. It can be directed concentrically with respect to the web 13 (FIGURES 35 and 7) or it can be aligned unilaterally relatively thereto (FTGUBE 6). The web 313 can also be provided on the narrow edge opposite the head 13 with a counter-head l3" (FIGURES 3, 4, 6, 7) of identical or different shape and it may if required also be formed with a central longitudinal slot rd (FIGURE 7).

For the adaptation of the helix I wound on the core 13, there are associated with the core 13 three pressingcn rollers 15, 16, It? the pivoting axes 18, w, 20 of which are disposed in the same plane, perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the winding core 13. The rollers 15, it; are driven, via bevel gears 21 and 22, by bevel gears 23, 24 disposed on the axis 28 of the roller 17, and driven by a common drive 25, the rollers 15-17 rotating in the same conveying direction (FIGURE 8).

The rollers 15', 16 may also be arranged axially parallel relatively to each other, in which case the roller 17' is perpendicular with respect to the plane of rotation of the rollers 15, 15' (FIGURE 9).

The working profile 26, 27, 28 of the rollers 15-17 or 15217 is so designed that the said profile forms a closed envelope profile in cooperation with the core 13, the envelope gap corresponding approximately to the thicl; ness of the wire 1 to be Wound.

The profile surfaces 26-23 are formed with transverse grooving, the grooving of one of the rollers-15, 15 being bent over in a manner corresponding to the helical pitch.

This shaping of the winding core 13 and of the pressingon rollers 154?, disposed .in the zone of a source of heat for the wire to be deformed, results in the production of a helically Wound sliding clasp fastener element row according to FIGURES l and 2, starting from a cross-section of the core according to FTGURE 4.

What is produced is a non-round, flat -pressed helix 1 having a wide curved-out head-piece 2 and locking projections 3 extending from both sides thereof. The shaping-on of the locking projections 3 is effected by appropriate profile forming of the working surfaces of the rollers l5, 16 in the zone of their surfaces cooperating with the head 13 of the core 13 during rotation.

The headpiece Z, 3, is carried by two parallel limbs 4, 5, which are drawn-in relatively to the head piece and which are in the same plane therewith and are connected together by a reversal curve or bight 6 positioned opposite the headpiece 2, 3. The reversal curve 6 is, in the example of an embodiment, also curved-out relatively to the limbs d, 5, since, according to FIGURES 1 and 2, a core 13 according to FIGURE 4 has been used.

FIGURES l and 2 show that the two limbs 4, 5, are located over the main portion of their length, with the headpiece 2, 3, and the reversal curve 6, in a plane extending transversely of the axis of the helix element row, only the one limb 4 being bent near the reversal point 6, with a short piece 4a, into the plane of the next winding.

With this embodiment, the locking heads 2, 3, and the limbs 4, 5 extend, with the reversal portion 6 of each winding, in the same plane perpendicular with respect to the winding axis. The transition to the winding following in each case is restricted to a short stretch of the limb 4, 4a. Consequently, all the headpieces 2 are aligned, with the locking projections 3 shaped upon them, perpendicularly with respect to the axial direction of the helix and therefore ensure the maximum anchoring elliciency of the element rows to be closed together. Since, furthermore, the limbs of each winding are, save for the portion 4a forming the transition to the following winding in each case, disposed one above the other in the transverse planes relatively to the axial direction of the helix, the novel element row can be sewn, with back-stitching and without special arrangements, on any base by means of a needle which passes through in the zone of the limbs of each winding. According to FIGURE 10, the head 13" of the core is also provided with an upwardly-projecting rib 13a. with which no profile recess following th said rib is associated in the rolls 15, 16. This rib 13a produces an especially clearly-marked shape of the locking projections 3.

Due to the novel shape of the element row, the latter is held in position by simple back-stitching in the zone of the limbs 4, 5, by means of the widened bending-over points 2, 6 and can be displaced in neither the one nor the other direction. By this means, a clearly-defined shape of the anchoring projections, ensuring satisfactory cohesion of the element rows, is attained.

What is claimed is:

1. A slide fastener element row comprising an elongated element bent to form a flattened non-circular helix including identical successive complete turns each lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the helix;

each turn including first and second bights which face each other and a pair of substantially rectilinear and relatively elongated limbs extending, in substantially contiguous relation in the plane of the turn, from opposite ends of said first bight; one of said limbs extending to one end of said second bight and the other limb being bent laterally out of the plane of the turn, just in advance of the other end of said second bightyto extend to the corre sponding other end ofthe second bight of the adjacent turn; each first bight comprisinga head piece widened laterally of the associated turn to provide oppositely projecting locking projections, and being expanded in the plane of the associated turn, the head pieces of successive first nights being aligned in a longitudinal zone extending parallel to the axis of the helix.

2. A slide fastener element row, as claimed in claim 1, in which each second vbight is expanded in the plane of the associated turn.

3. A slide fastener element row, as claimed in claim 1, in which each head piece is reduced in thickness in a direction parallel to the plane of the associated turn.

4. A slide fastener element row, as claimed in claim "1, in which said elongated element is substantially circular in cross section, said first and second bights being flattened, in a direction parallel to the plane of the associated turn, so as each to have its longer dimension substantially parallel to the axis of the helix.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,227 4/49 Potter 18-19 2,903,745 9/59 Hansen 18-l9 3,022,803 2/ '62 Berberich.

3,047,923 8/ 62 Wilcken.

3,047,924 8/62 Wilcken 24205. 1 3

3,05 7, 030 10/ 62 Claus 24-205 l 3 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,232,000 1 0/ France.

918,895 a 8/54 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, BERNARD A. GEL-AK,

Examiners. 

1. A SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENT ROW COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ELEMENT BENT TO FORM A FLATTENED NON-CURCLAR HELIX INCLUDING IDENTICAL SUCCESSIVE COMPLETE TURNS EACH LYING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE HELIX; EACH TURN INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND BIGHTS WHICH FACE EACH OTHER AND A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR AND RELATIVELY ELONGATED LIMBS EXTENDING, IN SUBSTANITALLY CONTIGUOUS RELATION IN THE PLANE OF THE TURN, FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FIRST BIGHT; ONE OF SAID LIMBS EXTENDING TO ONE END OF SID SECOND BIGHT AND THE OTHER LIMB BEING BENT LATERALLY OUT OF THE PLANE OF THE TURN, JUST IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND BIGHT, TO EXTEND TO THE CORRESPONDING OTHER END OF THE SECOND BIGHT OF THE ADJACENT TURN; EACH FIRST BIGHT COMPRISNG A HEAD PIECE WIDENED LATERALLY OF THE ASSOCIATED TURN TO PROVIDE OPPOSITELY PROJECTING LOCKING PROJECTIONS, AND BEING EXPANDED IN THE PLANE OF THE ASSOCIATED TURN, THE HEAD PIECES OF SUCCESSIVE FIRST BIGHTS BEING ALIGNED IN A LONGITUDINAL ZONE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE HELIX. 